Yes, pulling hair can provide a temporary sense of pressure relief or pleasure, often linked to stress, anxiety, or tension, by triggering brain chemistry changes that release endorphins, but it's a coping mechanism for an underlying issue like Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) and isn't a healthy solution for headaches or general stress, often leading to more damage or scalp issues. For actual tension relief, gentle scalp massage or addressing the root cause with therapies like CBT is recommended.
Biological Responses and Endorphin Release
When hair is pulled, the body may release endorphins, which are chemicals that make us feel good. This response is similar to the pleasure one might feel after exercise or eating chocolate.
Some experts believe that the act of pulling out hair can trigger the release of endorphins, which are naturally occurring brain chemicals that block pain sensations and increase feelings of well-being.
Each time the person pulls hair, the brain releases a small burst of reward hormone. The person feels 'rewarded' with a brief sense of relief. This makes the urge harder to resist. Doing the habit makes it stronger.
So what triggers Trichotillomania? Trichotillomania is largely recognised as an anxiety related condition. The release of endorphins brought about by pulling strands of hair out can momentarily relieve a person from feelings of stress and anxiety.
People with trich feel an intense urge to pull their hair out and they experience growing tension until they do. After pulling their hair out, they feel a sense of relief. A person may sometimes pull their hair out in response to a stressful situation, or it may be done without really thinking about it.
The "7-day haircut rule" suggests that while a fresh haircut looks sharp, it often hits its peak and looks most natural, effortless, and "lived-in" around one week (7 days) after getting it, as the hair softens, settles, and blends better. It's a guideline for timing major events or understanding when your hair finds its sweet spot, allowing the initial starkness to fade into a more comfortable style, similar to breaking in new shoes.
Background: Trichotillomania (TTM) has been associated with childhood trauma and perceived stress. While it has been hypothesized that hair-pulling regulate negative emotions, the relationship between childhood trauma, perceived stress, emotion regulation, and hair-pulling has not been well-studied.
While skin-picking and hair-pulling are typically associated with OCD and classified as an obsessive and compulsive-related disorder, it can also occur in the context of ADHD. Skin-picking, hair-pulling, and nail-biting may be related to anxiety, sensory stimulation, and impulsivity.
Unfortunately, plucking does not stop hair regrowth ever. Yes, it might slow down the regrowth when hair is plucked at the right times and might make the hair thinner by traumatizing the follicle as well. But, no, it cannot affect the health of the follicle long-lastingly.
Research suggests that hair-pulling triggers the brain's dopamine response—a chemical linked with pleasure and reward. Even if temporary, this chemical release creates a cycle where the brain begins to crave the behavior for comfort.
The primary "Chinese trick" for headaches involves acupressure, using firm pressure on specific points like LI-4 (Hegu) between the thumb and index finger, the "Third Eye" (Yintang) between eyebrows, and the "Drilling Bamboo" (UB2) points by the inner eye, to relieve tension, improve circulation, and block pain signals, often using circular motions for a few minutes.
Give Yourself a Head Massage
Whenever you feel tension in your head or in your hair, gently use your fingertips to massage your scalp and you'll soon feel the benefits. This has an extra advantage too, as the stimulation of the scalp improves and it receives more oxygen.
The "5 Cs of Migraine" typically refer to common dietary triggers: Cheese, Chocolate, Coffee, Cola (soda), and Citrus fruits, though evidence suggests cravings might cause them, not the other way around. Another set of 5 Cs describes migraine symptoms: Crescendo (building pain), Crushing (severe), Cranial (head-focused), Consistent (long-lasting), and Cyclical (repeating patterns). A third interpretation focuses on management: Caffeine, Cold, Comfort, Calm, and Control.
Hot or cold compresses to your head or neck. Massage and small amounts of caffeine. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and aspirin.
Hair roots hurt the top of the head mostly because of tight hairstyles. Yes, ponytails, braids, buns, and other ways of pulling back hair put pressure on the hair follicles, leading to discomfort and even root damage. As a solution, stop pulling your head, especially at the top of the head.
The ADHD "2-Minute Rule" suggests doing any task taking under two minutes immediately to build momentum, but it often backfires by derailing focus due to weak working memory, time blindness, and transition difficulties in people with ADHD. A better approach is to write down these quick tasks on a separate "catch-all" list instead of interrupting your main work, then schedule specific times to review and tackle them, or use a slightly longer timeframe like a 5-minute rule to prevent getting lost down "rabbit holes".
The 15-Minute Rule for OCD is a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) technique where you delay performing a compulsive ritual for 15 minutes after an obsessive thought arises, allowing anxiety to naturally decrease, thereby weakening the obsession-compulsion cycle and teaching your brain that the feared outcome doesn't happen without the ritual. It involves acknowledging the urge, tolerating the discomfort, and refocusing on another activity for a set time, eventually building up to longer delays as you gain control and build resilience against OCD's power.
Overview. Trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh), also called hair-pulling disorder, is a mental health condition. It involves frequent, repeated and irresistible urges to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body.
Signs of childhood trauma
Trichotillomania is part of OCD and is thought to be largely related to anxiety disorders. There have been twin studies that have demonstrated genetic anomalies associated with trichotillomania and other OCD-related disorders.
The Multifaceted Relationship Between Hair and Trauma
In conclusion, the concept that hair 'holds' trauma can be viewed from several perspectives. While hair can show physical signs of stress or illness, the belief that hair contains emotional trauma is more symbolic and culturally based.
Yes, a $5 tip on a $20 haircut is good, as it's 25%, exceeding the standard 15-20% ($3-$4) and shows appreciation for good service, making it a generous gesture, especially if the service was excellent.
As per certain beliefs, the cutting of hair or nails on Tuesdays is inauspicious as it could be disrespectful to Goddess Lakshmi. It could invite misfortune to our lives. Tuesday or Mangalwar is also an auspicious day for Hanuman.
In haircuts, numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 refer to clipper guard sizes, which are plastic attachments that control hair length; the higher the number, the longer the hair. A #1 is about 1/8 inch, #2 is 1/4 inch, #3 is 3/8 inch, #4 is 1/2 inch, and #5 is 5/8 inch, with each number leaving progressively more hair for fades, buzz cuts, and other styles.